Poor housing conditions lead to health concerns

Invasive mould, spongy floors and leaky ceilings forced the evacuation of 31 people, more than half of them children, from five uninhabitable homes of the Piikani Nation Nov. 23.
"We declared a state of emergency for the Piikani Nation because of our housing situation," said Adam North Peigan, a band councilor. "Some of our Nation members would not have survived the winter."
Poor conditions have led to health concerns such as pneumonia, asthma, nosebleeds and migraines for the occupants of the homes. Eight other homes are also considered priorities, and others still are endangered from years of gradual deterioration. The reserve's location, on a flood plain, has only compounded the problem.
Piikani Nation leaders estimate cost of fixing their housing at $3 million, North Peigan said.
The evacuees are currently housed in motels in nearby Pincher Creek and Fort McLeod.
Health Canada has declared a dozen homes on the reserve unfit for living since 2002, said spokeswoman Jeannie Smith. While it has no jurisdiction on First Nations land, environmental inspectors do examine buildings when invited and give their recommendations.
"It's the responsibility of the band to fix up the houses," Smith said. "Some are beyond repair."
Lorna North Peigan was evacuated from a home where she and her three girls, aged two to 10, have lived with pigeons taking roost in their attic, water seepage causing mould on the ceiling and walls, the top flooring torn up because of water damage and two years without a working furnace.
"I went through 10 cans of Lysol a month just to disinfect," she said. "We tried our best to maintain it."
North Peigan's youngest has had a life plagued by asthmatic problems, but she said her daughter's wheezing stopped within days of moving out of the damaged house. North Peigan has also found her own constant headaches and persistent fatigue have faded.
"I didn't know it was the house," she said.
Temporarily living in a motel in Fort McLeod, North Peigan has taken time off work to search for a new home for the end of the week. Since hearing from inspectors that her house was unlivable in June, she has tried to find replacement housing near work and her daughters' school. She thinks her family will end up living in Lethbridge, and make the necessary commutes.
The Red Cross provided 72 hours worth of accommodation and food, along with supplies for laundry, to evacuees to help the transition.
"It was really frightening to go through these houses," said Pam Heavy Head, a Red Cross outreach coordinator. "It was really tragic. I didn't expect to see that."
Eighteen of the evacuees were children under 17. Heavy Head said one of the evacuated Elders was suffering from pneumonia, while others told her of symptoms such as asthma and nosebleeds.
"There was a very strong mould odour," she said.
Just moving out of the mouldy environment was enough to help some of the displaced residents feel better. When Heavy Head visited with the evacuees three days later, many had noticed a change.
"Being free of the smell of mould - it's an immediate difference," she said.
Adam North Peigan praised the Red Cross for their help, and said the mayors of the adjoining communities, including Lethbridge, have been supportive. But he said the band could not move forward with its five-year housing plan, which includes addressing mortgage arrears, and repairing and rebuilding houses, without more money. Implementing a rental policy in January will not be enough.
Despite numerous pleas, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) has not provided funding above the $450,000 received last year in housing assistance - money which is managed by the band. North Peigan said that money went to cover mortgage arrears and housing administration costs.
"The department does not have additional funding at this time," said Pam Lemouel, a spokesperson with INAC.
She said the office is searching for avenues that might help the band with their temporary housing problems, and added that the band will begin charging rent in the new year to help offset housing costs.
"We're in disaster mode," North Peigan said. "We've done everything we've been asked to do, and their position is still that they're broke."
He said more attention should be paid to third-world conditions within Canada before pledges are made to send more aid abroad. "The Prime Minister really needs to look in his own backyard."
North Peigan said the fight for money isn't up. "We're not taking 'no' for an answer," he said. "My hope is to restore stability to our community."